ERIC Number: EJ1233992
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2019-Nov
Pages: 9
Abstractor: ERIC
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0036-8555
EISSN: N/A
Evidence of Molecular Motion
Odom, Arthur L.; Bell, Clare V.
Science Teacher, v87 n4 p43-51 Nov 2019
In 1827, Robert Brown noticed pollen suspended in water bouncing around erratically. It wasn't until 1905 that Albert Einstein provided an acceptable explanation of the phenomenon (Kac 1947): Brownian motion is the random movement of particles (e.g., pollen) in a fluid (liquid or gas) as a result of collisions with atoms and molecules. Movement of the particles is random. Atoms and molecules move and collide with particles as a consequence of thermal energy defined by temperature. The thermal energy of Brownian motion is necessary to explain the random movement of particles from a high to low concentration (Weiss 2017), the spontaneous movement of a solvent through a membrane (Odom, Barrow, and Romine 2017), the particulate nature of liquids and gases (Wiseman 1979), and movement of particles (such as proteins) within cells. This paper provides a theoretical framework with four associated laboratory activities (Appendix A, Labs 1 through 4) designed to guide construction of knowledge about Brownian motion. Lab 1 involves the direct observation of Brownian motion with a microscope and cell phone camera. Lab 2 guides students to make hypotheses and construct tentative models of random movement of particles based on the experience of a random walk. Lab 3, facilitated by computer technology and Excel software (see "On the web"), provides opportunities for comparisons of multiple models of a random walk, and Lab 4 concludes the instructional sequence with the use of an interactive model of Brownian motion.
Descriptors: Science Instruction, Molecular Structure, Motion, Scientific Concepts, Heat, Energy, Science Laboratories, Concept Formation, Educational Technology, Technology Uses in Education, Telecommunications, Handheld Devices, Laboratory Equipment
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Tests/Questionnaires; Guides - Classroom - Teacher
Education Level: N/A
Audience: Teachers
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A